OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.com
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| OMBAC Defeats Riverside 38-8 (Improves To 6-0 In Southern California) |
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3 March 2001 - Riverside, CA - The OMBAC rugby team remained undefeated in Southern California First Division play after a convincing 38-8 victory over Riverside at Reid Park. Although rain was forecasted, the clouds held and the weather turned warm as OMBAC completed the season sweep over last year’s Division II semi-finalists. The win improved OMBAC’s league record to 6-0 and overall record to 7-0. OMBAC put the first points on the scoreboard with a chip shot penalty by flyhalf Alistair Steele. Riverside stormed back at the ten-minute mark and finished off a lengthy sequence of recycled ball deep in the OMBAC half with the game’s first try. The conversion was off the mark but the home side led 5-3. The next fifteen minutes saw both teams with chances but neither side could muster further points until Steele’s second penalty ended the scoring drought. Three minutes later, an OMBAC penalty allowed Riverside to regain the lead 8-6. It was the last lead they would enjoy. Flanker Ryan Rebell dotted down OMBAC’s first try of the afternoon finishing off a series of rucks with a five yard scamper to the line. Steele’s first conversion of the afternoon and two more penalties before the close of the half saw OMBAC leading at the turn 19-8. OMBAC put immediate pressure on Riverside from the second half restart and once again, Rebell was the beneficiary of some good forward play as he darted over for another short range Yahtzee. Steele’s conversion attempt failed but the lead was now a comfortable 24-8. Midway through the second half, second row Paul Jennings sprained an ankle and his replacement, Robb Denney, scored OMBAC’s third try just minutes after stepping onto the pitch. It was another short-range try made courtesy of some quick recycled possession. Johan Claasen rounded out the day’s scoring teaming up with Malakai Delai to finish off a 70-yard movement. Steele added conversions to both late tries to make the final score OMBAC 38 – Riverside 3. "We played much better in the second half," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "We controlled the ball much better in amongst the forwards and our recycling was much more effective. We’ve really not had the best in preparation this year with so many guys being out and some still nursing injuries, but we’ve seen improvement with each match." OMBAC’s second side, preparing to finish out OMBAC’s Southern California and USA Rugby’s First Division commitments once the Super League kicks off, continued to impress with a 106-3 blitz of Riverside II. Guy Dotan led all scorers with five tries while veteran Jon Lee, the lone survivor from OMBAC’s 1988 National Championship team, added four. Next week OMBAC faces its biggest challenge of the year as long-time rivals Belmont Shore come calling on the Little Q. Belmont’s lone loss of the season came at the hands of OMBAC (35-15) in the second week of the season. The III’s start out the day with an 11:00 a.m. start, to be followed immediately by the clash between OMBAC II and Belmont Shore II. The main event kicks off at 3:00 p.m. It gets even harder the following weekend as the Southern California and Super League schedules clash. Southern California play sees OMBAC travel to Back Bay for first and second side matches while OMBAC’s Super League team entertains four-time USA National Champions, the Gentlemen of Aspen, at the Little Q. The curtain-raiser for that match will be against South Bay. OMBAC Lineup -15-Dave DiSorbo
(replaced by Derek Dahlen) |